For the first time, the Government of Cabo Verde awarded the nation’s highest state honours to three leaders of the Church of the Nazarene, recognizing individuals whose lives have been closely intertwined with the history and development of the island nation.
On 3 July 2026, the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 17/2026, awarded General Superintendent Emeritus Eugénio Rosa Duarte with the Ordem do Dragoeiro (Dragon Tree), first degree, and Jorge Manuel da Silva Barros and Emanuel David Simas Araújo with the Ordem do Vulcão (Volcano Medal), first degree.
“Their legacy transcends the strictly religious sphere, also reflecting in the promotion of essential human values, such as solidarity, justice, and a sense of cultural belonging,” the decree read (via translation). “Thus, recognizing the invaluable contribution they made to the contemporary history of Cape Verde, they constitute unavoidable references in the religious landscape.”
The triple honour elevated the individuals to the nation’s highest civic pantheon. The Ordem do Dragoeiro award recognises extraordinary merit and contributions to the nation’s economic development, culture, science, or technology. The Ordem do Vulcão award recognises individuals who contribute to the advancement of the nation.
This gesture – unprecedented in more than a century of the Nazarene denomination’s presence in the archipelago – was no accident. It honoured the quiet and persevering work of men who, under different circumstances, gave the Christian faith an expression of freedom, service, and dignity.
“At the dawn of the 20th century, the arrival of the Church of the Nazarene, initiated by Cape Verdean immigrants returning from the United States of America, under the same Christian matrix, brought new expressions of faith and community service,” the presidential decree read. “With its missionary work, it reinforced education, promoted solidarity, and transformed communities through social and spiritual actions.”
Duarte, a native of the island of Brava in Cabo Verde, was elected the 37th general superintendent during the 27th General Assembly and Conventions in Orlando, Florida, USA, in 2009.
He served as a minister and district superintendent in Cabo Verde, as well as director of the Africa Region from 2006 until his election to general superintendent. After retiring as a general superintendent, Duarte has remained active in the Church of the Nazarene. He is the Chancellor of Africa Nazarene University and serves as pastor of Providence Filadelfia First Church of the Nazarene in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Barros served as a minister in Praia and Mindelo, Cabo Verde, and significantly impacted the educational sphere.
Araújo pastors Praia Church of the Nazarene. He served as superintendent of the Cabo Verde Sul District from 1997-2025 and briefly served as the president of Seminario Nazareno de Cabo Verde.
“As General Superintendent of the Nazarene Church, Reverend Pastor Eugênio Duarte, stands out, recognised as one of the main pillars of the consolidation and expansion of the Nazarene Church in Cape Verde and the world, holding the highest position among Nazarenes worldwide,” the decree read. “Alongside him, through their high dedication and genuine commitment, stand out the figures of Reverend Pastor David Simas Araújo and Jorge Manuel Silva de Barros, who have responsibly and humbly faced the contemporary challenges of Cape Verdean society, both on the islands and in the diaspora.”